Today's Gold Price

Gold purity in India is measured using the Karat system. 24 Karat (999) is 99.9% pure gold — too soft for jewelry but ideal for investment bars, coins, and bullion. 22 Karat (916) is the Indian standard for jewelry, containing 91.6% gold alloyed with copper or silver for durability. This is the most widely bought purity for wedding and daily-wear jewelry. 18 Karat (750) with 75% gold content is preferred for diamond-studded and designer pieces. 9 Karat (375) at 37.5% gold is used for affordable fashion jewelry.

Indian gold prices are influenced by three key factors: (1) International spot price set by London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and COMEX futures. (2) USD/INR exchange rate — since India imports 95% of its gold, a weaker rupee increases domestic prices. (3) Import duties and taxes — currently 6% Basic Customs Duty + 2.5% AIDC + 3% GST. The India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) publishes the daily benchmark rate that local sarafa associations and jewellers use as their base price.

Since June 2021, BIS Hallmarking with HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) is mandatory for all gold jewelry sold in India. Every hallmarked piece carries a 6-digit alphanumeric code that can be verified on the BIS Care app or website. The hallmark stamp includes the BIS logo, purity grade (916 for 22K, 750 for 18K), and the HUID number. Always verify the HUID before purchasing gold jewelry to ensure genuine purity.

The final price you pay at a jeweller follows this formula: Gold Value (Weight × Rate per gram) + Making Charges (typically 6%–14% of gold value, varies by design complexity) − Store Discount (if any, per gram) + 3% GST on the subtotal. For example, a 10g 22K chain at ₹15,000/g with 10% making: Gold Value = ₹1,50,000 + Making = ₹15,000 + GST (3% of ₹1,65,000) = ₹4,950. Total = ₹1,69,950. Use our Jewelry Bill Calculator above for instant estimates.

Physical Gold (jewelry, coins, bars) is traditional but involves making charges, storage costs, and purity risks. Gold ETFs on NSE/BSE offer 99.5% pure gold exposure with zero making charges and demat custody. Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) by RBI provide 2.5% annual interest plus gold price gains, with zero capital gains tax if held to maturity (8 years). Digital Gold platforms (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm) allow buying from ₹1 with vault storage. For long-term wealth building, SGBs and Gold ETFs are more cost-effective than physical gold.

Today's 22 Karat (BIS 916 Hallmark) gold rate varies by city due to local demand, transportation, and association benchmarks. The national average is updated during market hours (9:30 AM to 6:00 PM IST) based on IBJA (India Bullion and Jewellers Association) benchmarks and MCX spot rates. Use our live rate cards above for the exact price in your city.

24 Karat (999) is 99.9% pure gold, used for coins, bars, and investment. 22 Karat (916) contains 91.6% gold and 8.4% alloy (copper/silver), making it the standard for Indian jewelry with BIS Hallmark certification. 18 Karat (750) has 75% gold, used for diamond-studded and designer jewelry. 9 Karat (375) has 37.5% gold, used for affordable fashion jewelry and watches.

BIS Hallmark is a purity certification by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The number 916 means the gold is 91.6% pure (22 Karat). Since June 2021, HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) is mandatory on all gold jewelry sold in India. Every hallmarked piece carries a 6-digit alphanumeric HUID code that can be verified on the BIS website. Other hallmark stamps include 750 (18K), 585 (14K), and 375 (9K).

The formula is: Total Bill = (Gold Weight in grams × Today's Karat Rate per gram) + Making Charges (6%–14% of gold value) + 3% GST on (Gold Value + Making Charges). For example, a 10g 22K chain at ₹15,000/g with 10% making: Gold Value = ₹1,50,000 + Making = ₹15,000 + GST (3% of ₹1,65,000) = ₹4,950. Total = ₹1,69,950. Use our Jewelry Bill Calculator above for instant estimates.

Gold purchases in India attract 3% GST on the total value (gold + making charges). Additionally, making charges themselves may attract 5% GST on the service component. Import duty on gold is currently 6% (Basic Customs Duty) + 2.5% Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess, which is factored into the domestic retail rate.

Gold prices vary across Indian cities due to: (1) Local Bullion Association benchmarks — each city's jewellers association (e.g., Madras Jewellers Association, Mumbai Bullion Association) sets its own daily benchmark. (2) Transportation and logistics costs from refineries. (3) State-level taxes and octroi (in some states). (4) Local demand and supply — South Indian states (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka) typically have higher rates due to strong jewelry buying culture.

A Pavan (also called Sovereign) is a traditional Indian gold weight unit equal to 8 grams. It is widely used in South India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka) for jewelry transactions. One Tola equals 11.6638 grams and is commonly used in North India. When buying wedding jewelry, South Indians typically refer to "how many pavans" while North Indians refer to "how many tolas."

Physical Gold (jewelry, coins, bars) is ideal for personal use and cultural purposes but involves making charges (6-14%), 3% GST, storage risk, and purity concerns. Gold ETFs (traded on NSE/BSE) offer 99.5% pure gold exposure with zero making charges, demat storage, and high liquidity. Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) issued by RBI offer 2.5% annual interest plus gold price appreciation with zero capital gains tax if held to maturity (8 years). For pure investment, SGBs and ETFs are generally more cost-effective than physical gold.